Warrington decision paves way for £38m grant for 240 homes
The council has reapproved Habiko’s plans to redevelop the former DW Sports site off Academy Way to smooth the path to site for the 100% affordable scheme.
Warrington Council approved plans for 240 apartments from Habiko – the joint venture between Muse, Homes England and PIC – in May.
The proposal returned to the council’s development management committee last night so that a barrier to unlocking a £38m grant from Homes England for the project could be removed.
Habiko’s intention has always been to deliver all of the homes on affordable tenures and, in May, the project was approved subject to a Section 106 agreement that would facilitate the delivery of a fifth of the homes on affordable tenures.
Since that decision, Homes England has made it clear that, in order for it to allocate grant to the scheme, the S106 should be dispensed with.
The agency “cannot provide grant funding for the 20% provision should it be secured via legal agreement as it does not align with their Capital Funding Guide”, according to a planning report.
Last night’s reapproval means grant funding can now be provided to fund the scheme in its entirety.
A spokesperson for Habiko said: “Habiko continues to progress the Academy Way, Warrington project and we will confirm the registered provider in due course.”
Designed by AHR Architects, Habiko’s scheme proposes, two six-storey blocks on 1.5 acres of authority-owned land south off Academy Way and Time Square.
All 240 flats – 162 with one-bedroom and 78 with two – would be offered up on tenures not exceeding Local Housing Allowance rates or at least 20% below local market rent.
The professional team also features landscape architect Gillespies, project manager Hive Projects, cost consultant Abacus, building services engineer Hannan Associates, structural engineer Curtins, Design Fire Consultants, and Rappor providing air quality consultancy.
To learn more, search for reference number 2026/00196/FULM on Warrington Council’s planning portal.
